| Pages in topic: [1 2] > | Poll: Do you accept payments by credit card? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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Credit cards and PayPal seem an odd choice to me given the huge commission, which has to be compensated for by pushing up what you charge the customer.
All my customers pay by international bank transfer, which is effectively fee-free because the charges get absorbed by the customer's finance department and aren't directly associated with my translation.
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and no one ever suggested to pay by credit card
but PayPal, yes for small amounts.
| | | | Edward Potter 
Spain
Local time: 04:30
Member (2003)
Spanish to English
+ ...
I understand that now in the U.S. over half of all purchases are made with means other than cash. Strangely, I have never had a customer suggesting payment by credit card.
Paypal commissions may seem high, but compare that to what you would have paid had you set up a credit card charge system with your bank.
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John Fossey
Canada
Local time: 22:30
Member (2008)
French to English
+ ...
I have had a small number of retail clients over the years who wanted to pay by credit card, so I just sent them a PayPal invoice.
| | | | Rebecca Hendry
United Kingdom
Local time: 03:30
Member (2005)
Spanish to English
+ ...
| I voted no, but actually... | Jul 15, 2015 |
..clients can pay me by credit card through PayPal if they want to. As far as I know none of them have. Most direct clients pay me via bank transfer.
| | | | Thayenga
Germany
Local time: 04:30
Member (2009)
English to German
+ ...
None of my clients have ever suggested paying via credit card.
If a new client would suggest this means of payment, I'd have to think about it first, tending towards non-acceptance.
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Never been asked! All my customers pay by international bank transfer...
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| Only indirectly | Jul 15, 2015 |
I accept PayPal, though it means that the client will lose some discounts*, and spend 10% more than otherwise, and clients may pay me via PayPal using a credit card.
*eBay-designed and (so far) -owned PayPal was obviously designed for eBay, not translation services. So they forbid surcharging buyers/customers for the use of PayPal, under penalty of them freezing the account and 'scooping the loot'. So I state my prices for payment via PayPal, and offer a 10% discount (equivalent to ... See more I accept PayPal, though it means that the client will lose some discounts*, and spend 10% more than otherwise, and clients may pay me via PayPal using a credit card.
*eBay-designed and (so far) -owned PayPal was obviously designed for eBay, not translation services. So they forbid surcharging buyers/customers for the use of PayPal, under penalty of them freezing the account and 'scooping the loot'. So I state my prices for payment via PayPal, and offer a 10% discount (equivalent to their total cost in Brazil) for clients who refrain from using it. PayPal cannot impose any penalty upon me if their service has not been at all involved in the transaction.
For domestic payments, I can issue bank "boletos" (payment slips) onlne from my bank and e-mail them. Clients may pay these at any bank in Brazil using various methods, credit cards often being included. I charge their issue fee of BRL 4.50 (about USD 1.50) to the client. ▲ Collapse
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I have a couple of payment platforms set up right now, Paypal and Freshbooks, and they both accept credit cards. I have been getting away from agency clients and found that my new SME clients really like paying by credit card (and cash!). It only took a few minutes to set up and the processing fees are actually lower than Paypal's. I just received a $100 payment yesterday and the fee was $1.50.
By the way, Paypal has a professional payment option where the processing fee is only $0.... See more I have a couple of payment platforms set up right now, Paypal and Freshbooks, and they both accept credit cards. I have been getting away from agency clients and found that my new SME clients really like paying by credit card (and cash!). It only took a few minutes to set up and the processing fees are actually lower than Paypal's. I just received a $100 payment yesterday and the fee was $1.50.
By the way, Paypal has a professional payment option where the processing fee is only $0.50. I'm not sure where the option is within Paypal, but I have it through Freshbooks and I love it ▲ Collapse
| | | | Erzsébet Czopyk
Hungary
Local time: 04:30
Member (2006)
Russian to Hungarian
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SITE LOCALIZER | Yes, why not? | Jul 15, 2015 |
John Fossey wrote:
I have had a small number of retail clients over the years who wanted to pay by credit card, so I just sent them a PayPal invoice.
Same to me.
| | | | Mario Freitas
Brazil
Local time: 00:30
Member (2014)
English to Portuguese
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| You never know with PayPal | Jul 16, 2015 |
Since I receive most of my payments from other countries through PayPal, I cannot tell how many clients pay with credit card or other methods. The thing is, althoug I cannot accept direct payments or make direct charges to credit cards, I do accept that method, as I can issue a PayPal invoice for the person to pay with their credit card, as well noted by John below.
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Luiz Barucke
Brazil
Local time: 00:30
Member (2013)
Spanish to Portuguese
+ ...
| I don't know how to accept payments through credit cards | Jul 16, 2015 |
I don't even know how to accept payments directly through credit cards.
I have 3 different payment methods: bank transfers to clients in my residence country, PayPal and wire transfers to foreign clients.
PayPal is expensive but simple. Bank wire is cheap (for larger amounts) but very complicated. Local transfer is great but for local clients.
Credit cards... How is it? I think it's not an option in my country (home nor residence).
| | | | Mario Chavez (X)
Local time: 22:30
English to Spanish
+ ...
| Paypal is quite safe | Jul 16, 2015 |
I understand many colleagues accept Paypal and/or Moneybookers. I don't see much sense in offering credit cards as a payment method because the fees will likely be higher than Paypal.
Wire transfers are a cool alternative, but they can be a hassle sometimes.
I use Paypal heavily for purchases and payments (whenever I sell or buy stuff on eBay, by the way). A long-time client paid my invoice 50/50 via Paypal a couple of years ago; but now she only pays by company check. ... See more I understand many colleagues accept Paypal and/or Moneybookers. I don't see much sense in offering credit cards as a payment method because the fees will likely be higher than Paypal.
Wire transfers are a cool alternative, but they can be a hassle sometimes.
I use Paypal heavily for purchases and payments (whenever I sell or buy stuff on eBay, by the way). A long-time client paid my invoice 50/50 via Paypal a couple of years ago; but now she only pays by company check. I don't see what the problem is because it's me, the payment recipient, who has to pay the fee —which is less than 2%.
Speaking of payment, I was targeted by a scammer last week who sent me a Word file (lifted from a PDF file he found online) and asked for a 10,000-word English to Spanish translation. I quoted him a very high fee (about $2,000) which he readily accepted. So I sprung my surprise: only cashier's check, 100% in advance.
On Monday, I got this UPS express envelope with a cashier's check inside. Guess for how much? $5,800.00! That's right. It's an old scam.
The guy has been emailing and texting me for the last two days. I'll just ignore him and keep this check as a memento.
Seriously: if you ever face a similar situation, never EVER deposit such a check. It takes days and up to 2-3 weeks for a bank to discover the scam (provided you didn't know the check was fake), and you'll be out of a chunk of your own money. Why? Because the scammer will say: Oh, right! I sent a larger check; could you send me the difference by check?
Then the scammer will cash in your real check. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Mario Chavez (X)
Local time: 22:30
English to Spanish
+ ...
| Just the facts, madam | Jul 16, 2015 |
Chris S wrote:
Credit cards and PayPal seem an odd choice to me given the huge commission, which has to be compensated for by pushing up what you charge the customer.
All my customers pay by international bank transfer, which is effectively fee-free because the charges get absorbed by the customer's finance department and aren't directly associated with my translation.
What do you call a “huge commission”?
Many translators accept either credit cards or Paypal, and absorb the fee as a necessary business expense or split it with the customer.
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